Sonos Playbar versus Canton DM55 Soundbase – review

As TVs get thinner, the laws of physics dictate that sound quality must get worse! There’s simply no room for decent speakers. Hence the rise in popularity of sound bars and bases. The difference between them is simply that sound bars usually sit in front of the TV whereas sound bases normally sit underneath the TV. However both have options for positioning them elsewhere.

I have two award winning options (albeit in different categories) to look at, the Sonos Playbar and the Canton DM55. There is a significant price difference between the two, so my aim is not to try and determine which sounds best. There are far better qualified people who can do that (and indeed have). I will discuss sound quality briefly, but I will be looking at the broader picture.

Sonos Playbar

The 9 driver Sonos Playbar is part of a complete wireless music system and can link wirelessly with all the other components in the Sonos range, including powered speakers like the Sonos Play:1 and wireless receivers like the Connect:Amp, that will turn a set of passive speakers into a streaming HiFi system.

It streams via WiFi which means there is no downsampling. So it plays exactly what it’s sent, from compressed MP3 files, to uncompressed audio files like FLAC or Apple Lossless.

Your music or TV is controlled via a free app on your computer, smartphone or tablet. From the app you can choose what music you want to play in a variety of ways. Numerous streaming services such as Spotify or Deezer can be accessed as well as internet radio stations or your iTunes (or equivalent) music library. You can stream music directly from your smartphone or tablet – but really you’re better off using your device as a controller. TV is just another source you can choose from the app:

Selecting TV source from Sonos app

Sonos can operate in two modes: standard wireless mode and bridge mode. In bridge mode, all the Sonos components connect to each other directly, forming an ad-hoc network. This makes for a very robust wireless system, particularly if you have difficulty with wireless reception around your house.

It has one optical audio input which Sonos recommend you connect directly to your TV. Then you connect your Sky box, PlayStation, DVD player etc via HDMI. This does require your TV to have optical out (most recent TVs have this). Otherwise you’ll need to invest in an analogue to digital audio converter.

Another option not officially supported by Sonos, is to connect all your devices via their optical output to an optical switch. This can be advantageous since some TVs don’t pass through exactly what they are sent. For example they may downsample 5.1 Dolby Digital to stereo. If you only have a Sky box connected to your TV, I’d connect directly from the Sky box to the Playbar to ensure any 5.1 content is played correctly.

You can check what the Playbar is receiving from the Sonos controller app: Help | About my Sonos system. I’m connected directly from a WD Live box to the Playbar. This will show stereo if the TV doesn’t pass through the Dolby Digital 5.1 signal.

Check audio in on Sonos Playbar

The Playbar has an accelerometer built into it that changes its sound profile depending on how you have it mounted: either above, below, or in front of the TV. If in front of the TV, the infrared signal from the TV remote cleverly gets repeated through the Playbar so there’s no concern of it blocking the TV’s receiver.

Canton DM55

The 6 driver DM55 is the smallest of a range of soundbases from Canton, an established and well respected German brand. The 55 stands for 55cm (width). They also do a DM75 (8 drivers ) and DM100 (10 drivers) at 75cm and 100cm wide respectively with higher specs.

The glass topped box looks very sleek and unlike the Playbar, comes with its own remote which is on the chunky side but well built. It’s very straightforward setting up the DM55. It has digital optical and coaxial inputs as well as an analogue input and a SUB output.

Typically you’ll connect it in the exact same way as the Playbar. Again, I’ve connected it directly to the WD TV via the optical input. There isn’t really any setup although you can configure sound adjustments via the remote, all explained clearly in the manual. I found the default settings fine.

For music, the soundbase supports Bluetooth streaming via aptX. There’s a very simple setup procedure to connect your device via Bluetooth. Bluetooth has less range than WiFi so your phone or tablet will need to be with 10-15m of the DM55.

Comparison

TV Sound

Both systems sound very good as you’d expect. The sound from the DM55 by default has more bass than the Playbar, due to its two integrated woofers. Whether you prefer this is down to personal preference and the sort of TV you watch. You can add insane bass to the Playbar, wirelessly, by adding a Sonos Sub (an extra £699).

Two woofers on the bottom of DM55

The Playbar gives better spatial separation partly due to its extra width (90cm versus 55cm), so provides a better surround sound experience, but the DM55 does a very decent job given its size and price. The Playbar has another trick up its sleeve. If you have two Play:1s, Play:3s, or Play:5s you can use these as rear speakers for a mind blowing 5 speaker surround system. Add in the Sub too for the complete 5.1 listening experience, but make sure you live in a detached house!

Music

The Playbar provides so many more options for playing music. If you have other Sonos speakers, you can group them wirelessly with the Playbar for a multi-room experience. But it’s the app and the ease of playing whatever music you like, all through one simple interface that really sets the Playbar in a different league when it comes to music (and radio for that matter).

However audio quality via Bluetooth streaming is remarkably good through the DM55. It’s a lot better than I was expecting and streaming Deezer from my iPhone sounded great.

Conclusion

If you have a limited budget and want to play music only in one room, the DM55 is superb value. TV and films sound very good and streaming via Bluetooth is unlikely to disappoint.

If you already have Sonos, or are considering it, and budget allows, I would go for the Playbar. But it’s rarely as simple as that!

Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments below. I have both setup here, so should be able to answer any queries you may have on either system.

If you have found this article useful please consider clicking on the link(s) below. You pay the exact same price and it’ll enable me to keep these articles coming! Any questions, please ask away in the comments section below.

These are all the items I mention in the article and also stock in my shop, so if you happen to live locally please pop in for a demo!

Related

Comments

Based on your test, the Playbar has more “pleasing” sound. But, Canton is much cheaper and can give you extra bass, when needed. The ease of use is on Sonos side. I am considering both, and my priorities are ease of use and clear dialogue at normal TV listening levels. Do you need to turn the both Canton and Sonos loud in order to hear the dialogue?

The Playbar has a very nice “speech enhancement” button that does a very good job of emphasising the sound for dialogue, very easily – and it works well. I don’t find you need to turn the volume up high on either, but you may want to play with bass and treble to suit your own preference with the Canton.

Only because that’s what I’ve got to compare! I felt it would still useful to use the Sonos as a benchmark if you like. And they both serve the same purpose, albeit at different price points. If I get hold of a Bose sound base I’ll be sure to compare it to the Canton (and Playbar).

I’ve only just chanced upon this review & the comments. I’ve read your comparison with a great interest, & I wish I had read it before I committed to buying my DM 55 system last December. Before that, I used to own a 5-speakers surround sound system, which worked well until it died on me. I went to a local dealer in sound system & discussed my needs & they recommended the DM 55. The sound from it fine but I’ve not regained my surround sound effect with the DM. I Like the surround sound effect, especially when listening to music. Would you care to suggest a solution or two…that’s not going to cost an arm & a leg?
Thanks

The DM55 is the smallest of the DM range – they also a DM75 (75cm wide) and a DM100 (100cm wide). These larger units would provide better spatial separation so may be worth a listen.

The Sonos Playbar at 90cm wide with 9 drivers does a pretty good job of surround sound for not much more,, but lacks the integrated subwoofer of the DM range. With the Playbar you do have the option of adding two Play:1, 3 or 5 speakers for a 5.0 surround experience. And even the Sub for a complete 5.1 setup. But you will have spent at least £1500!

I’m buying a Canton DM 55 soundbase made in Germany, shipped from Amazon UK. I’m being told I need an eight mains cable to use it in the US, will this work? Is there another type if an adapter that can be used?

Hi,
thank you for your comparison, it is very useful, I was very confusing about these products.
I have a doubt.. can I connect one of them to an amplifier?
I mean, if I have a old vinyl record player connected to an amplifier and I would listen music and audio movie from tv, what is better?

Hi, I bought a Canton DM55 6 months ago..just had to say that the sound is great..warm & strong. More than enough bass..in fact I have to turn it down quite a bit. All the little background sounds come alive. Admittedly it doesnt give a spatial surround sound as such..it is only 55 cm wide after all!! So its not fair to criticise it for that..but it does fill the room with a full rich sound. Finished in silver & a simple solid design..it looks like quality sat on the black glass shelf under the tv!! I recommend it!!

Hi,
This sound bar is definitely one of the best that I have had. This sound bar has a pretty ample output for the size of it. It have used it to play youtube videos and this did not disappoint. This will probably beat some of the higher priced sound bar that you could find on amazon. The remote that comes with the unit makes the sound bar very easy to use and adjust all the different settings.

Gidon’s obsession with technology began at an early age with a BBC B Micro computer. After working for 12 years at British Telecom travelling around the world as a technology researcher he opened a technology retail store in Tavistock in Devon, selling the latest tech and offering IT services to residential and business customers. Read More…

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